Chapter 3465: Diva, Diva (22)

If anyone found out about the system in her head, they would definitely perform a craniotomy on her.

Even if they didn’t believe it, she would be dismissed as a lunatic. How could she survive in the entertainment industry then?

Besides, the system was her only source of support.

Qiao Ling’er realized that this system only knew how to be a hands-off manager, issuing tasks and expecting her to complete them.

The moment trouble struck, it hid like a turtle in its shell. She had neither the means nor the courage to leave it.

Yue Wenlun watched Qiao Ling’er’s rapidly changing expressions.

"Tell me the truth," he whispered in a low voice. "At a time like this, don't you think you should tell me the truth?"

"I really didn't mean to plagiarize. Really," Qiao Ling’er said. "I swear, I'm telling the truth. I didn't plagiarize."

"Even now, you’re still trying to lie to me? Do you have any idea what the consequences will be if we lose the case? Are you going to pay the damages?"

Qiao Ling’er’s face grew even paler. At the same time, the system chimed in to remind her that the favorability had dropped by 30 points, leaving it at a measly 20.

A favorability of 20 was the equivalent of being ordinary friends. It had fallen way too fast. He was truly heartless.

Qiao Ling’er felt numb inside. She had worked so hard to build up his affection, only for it to vanish in an instant. Had everything she did been in vain?

"Enough! Stop reminding me about the favorability points! What good does it do me now?" Qiao Ling’er snapped at the system.

"Can't you help me? We rise and fall together!"

Waiting for the test results was pure agony.

"I'm sorry, that service is not provided," the system said coldly.

"Then what use are you?" Qiao Ling’er roared in her mind. "If you hadn't made me capture these men, I wouldn't be in this awkward situation!"

"Do you think you would have been reborn without me?" the system said emotionlessly. "If you want to die, I won't stop you."

Who wanted to die? Especially after being given a second chance at life. Why was this second life still so difficult? Was this just her fate?

Why?

The test results were in. There were indeed chemicals used to fake aging on the pages. The judge asked Qiao Ling’er to explain herself.

"I lost my notebook, so I wanted to recreate it. But that doesn't mean I plagiarized," Qiao Ling’er said, refusing to admit guilt to the end.

Yue Wenlun’s face was as dark as could be. He looked hideous.

The outcome was already clear. Despite Qiao Ling’er’s numerous excuses and her near-swearing to the heavens that she hadn't plagiarized, the verdict was in favor of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff demanded a public apology to the media and 10 million in economic damages.

As soon as the trial ended, Yue Wenlun stood up and walked away. His aura felt incredibly suffocating.

The media swarmed both parties. Cameras were clicking incessantly. Yue Wenlun pushed through the crowd and left the court, completely ignoring Qiao Ling’er, who was surrounded by reporters.

She was mobbed, bombarded with sharp questions about why she hadn't focused on acting instead of plagiarizing scripts.

To most people, this was a move of pure idiocy.

Qiao Ling’er wanted to chase after Yue Wenlun, but the reporters blocked her way. Under these circumstances, she had no way to explain herself. The affection level had dropped to 10.

He was being generous by not giving her a negative number.

Ning Shu stood at the court entrance. Seeing Yue Wenlun emerge with a dark face, she greeted him with a smile. "Where's Qiao Ling’er?"

She noted how ungentlemanly it was to leave her behind.

"You're just here to gloat, aren't you?" Yue Wenlun simply sidestepped her.

Ning Shu shook her head. "I’m not one to gloat. I just think your taste is a bit subpar."

Yue Wenlun: …

Was that not gloating?

"What do you want to say?" Yue Wenlun asked, looking at her.

"Nothing much. I just saw that you lost the case and came over to offer some consolation. By the way, your studio seems to be on the hook for 10 million. Is that coming out of your pocket or Qiao Ling’er’s?" Ning Shu spoke gently, and someone watching from a distance might have thought they were having a pleasant conversation.

Yue Wenlun’s face grew even darker. "That’s none of your business."

Ning Shu shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."

Seeing the reporters flooding toward them, Yue Wenlun opened his car door and drove off.

This gave Ning Shu another moment in the spotlight. When reporters asked for her opinion on the case, she simply said, "Justice has a long reach."

The internet was in a frenzy. #Qiao Ling’er Plagiarism# was already the top trending topic on Weibo.

She had forged evidence and refused to admit it even then. She was incredibly thick-skinned.

Yue Wenlun’s fans blamed Qiao Ling’er for making their idol lose 10 million and demanded she pay it out of her own pocket. After all, she was the one who plagiarized, yet she made Yue Wenlun take the fall.

Of course, some suggested that a move like forging evidence wouldn't have happened without Yue Wenlun’s instructions, implying he was the mastermind.

Public opinion was all over the place, but it was clear someone was stirring the pot. Regardless of the truth, Qiao Ling’er’s reputation was ruined.

With the case over, it was time for Ning Shu to report to her film set and start working.

Her schedule proceeded at a steady pace. During breaks in filming, she would check her phone for gossip.

Yue Wenlun had posted an apology on Weibo, claiming he had been ‘blinded’ and hadn't known the script was plagiarized. He apologized sincerely, noting that the other party still refused to admit guilt.

In short, he was a victim of deception, and the fault lay entirely with Qiao Ling’er. He shifted the blame completely to her and then apologized for setting a bad example for society. He donated 200,000 to a Hope Primary School and donated all the books he had read.

He was using this to rehabilitate his image.

Yue Wenlun’s current move was indeed the right thing to do for his career, but it was incredibly cold-blooded. He used 200,000 to save face while the 10 million in damages fell squarely on Qiao Ling’er.

It was a masterclass in shifting blame. Given her current reputation, distancing himself was the logical choice. It was exactly what he had done to Mu Shuyao when she was in trouble.

Ultimately, Yue Wenlun loved neither Mu Shuyao nor Qiao Ling’er. What he cared about was his own future.

Now that Qiao Ling’er was in trouble, he threw her under the bus immediately.

Even ‘invincible true love’ was useless now.

Ning Shu curled her lip. Once interests were at stake, he turned his back on her. She wondered how Qiao Ling’er felt now.

After all that effort to capture him, she had gained nothing and was instead buried in debt. A 10 million penalty was enough to give anyone a headache.

Qiao Ling’er had just entered the industry and didn't have much in the way of savings. Now that Yue Wenlun had dumped the 10 million debt on her, the pressure must be immense.

When Qiao Ling’er saw Yue Wenlun’s Weibo post, she was absolutely livid.

Did Yue Wenlun just love making unilateral decisions on Weibo?

He hadn't even given her a heads-up. In the past, she had laughed at Mu Shuyao for being dumped on Weibo, but now it was her turn.

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